Pure Color by Estee Lauder, Clarisonic, Sinful Colors and more!

I was a bad girl the other day.  I went into my local Belk store to get some clothes and I walked out with a new blush (including a nice gift with purchase) and no new clothes!  I'm a sucker for a beautiful blush and my new Pure Color blush by Estee Lauder in the shade Wild Sunset is stunning.  I love just about any shade of blush but this one caught my eye.  It's perfect for the summer and looks great on.

Closeup of Wild Sunset

Recently Estee Lauder updated their blush line and Wild Sunset pulled me in the fastest.  It's a bold, coral shade with gold shimmer.  Don't be scared of the shimmer though, it's very fine and adds a perfect "glow". 

Pictured above- Wild Sunset blush and Estee Lauder eye pencil in SoftSmudge Brown

While at the Estee Lauder counter I also picked up an Artist's Eye Pencil in Softsmudge Brown.  I have been looking for a good eye pencil in a brown shade that is not too dark.  This pencil has worked great and is perfect for small eyes like mine since black eyeliner can overwhelm and make them appear smaller. 

Wild Sunset and Softsmudge Brown are available at your local Estee Lauder counter or at www.esteelauder.com  Swatches of both the blush and eye pencil are pictured at the bottom of this blog entry. 

Because I purchased over $35.00 in products at Estee Lauder, I received this nice gift with purchase.  It included a cute blue and white bag, .24oz of Advanced Night Repair, a Pure Color lipstick in the shade Candy, .5oz of Time Zone Line & Wrinkle creme, .17oz of Time Zone eye creme, double ended Sumptuous mascara and Lash Primer Plus and 1.7 fl. oz of Soft Clean Creme Cleanser. 

I've been using the primer and mascara which I have enjoyed.  The primer is nice and helps my itty bitty lashes look longer.  The mascara has not caused "raccoon eyes" and has held up well.  I do wish the mascara was more thickening but it does lengthen well.  The lipstick shade is a bright, shimmery pink but I wish it lasted longer on my lips-it seems to disappear too quickly.  A swatch of this lipstick is pictured at the bottom of this entry.

Closeup of the Sumptuous mascara wand

Recently I also visited my local Ulta store and picked up a few goodies I've been eyeing for a while.  I purchased a bottle of Pantene's Aqua Light shampoo, a new Clarisonic brush head (for normal skin), a bottle of Essie's Millionails (on clearance!) and Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting.

Pictured above- Clarisonic brush head for normal skin, Pantene Aqua Light shampoo & Essie's Millionails strengthener.

Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting in Honey Glow

I've been using the Pantene Aqua Light shampoo this past week and it's okay.  It does cleanse well and is lightweight like it claims BUT it leaves my hair very dry.  I know most cleansing shampoos can be drying and I guess my hair is just too thirsty to care.  The shampoo states it provides weightless nourishment without silicone that can weigh down hair.  I think this would be a great shampoo for someone with fine hair.

I was so excited to see Essie's Millionails on clearance.  Essie is redesigning their packaging therefore some products are on clearance.  I have used this nail strengthener in the past with success.  Usually it costs $15.00 which is very steep but I found my bottle on clearance for $4.99! 

This past week I decided to replace my Clarisonic brush head.  I've been using the sensitive skin one but I bought a normal skin brush this week, so hopefully all will go well.  All single Clarisonic brush heads are available at Ulta for $25.00 each.

 The last item I was excited to pick up was Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting.  I can't tell you how many times I've swatched this, picked it up then placed it back without buying.  It's designed to be a body bronzer.  It's a HUGE compact (.85 oz) that comes with a body puff.  The bronzer can be applied dry or wet.  I used it today on my neck and chest and I was happy with the results.  You can find it at Ulta for $45.00.  You can see a swatch at the bottom of this blog entry.

Neutrogena's Micro-Mist sunless tan and Sinful Colors polish in Hazard

Of course no haul would be complete without a trip to the local drugstore.  I chose Rite Aide and picked up some self tanner, nail polish and some more bronzer (because clearly I don't have enough)!

I have been using Neutrogena's Micro-Mist airbrush sunless tan this past week and I have mixed thoughts about this product.  It sprays a very fine mist which is super-easy to apply.  The result is a product that doesn't have to be rubbed in and the product doesn't smell after it's applied.  The negatives about this product is that it only makes your skin about 1 shade darker and that if not used in a WELL-VENTILATED area, you might lose your ability to breathe freely.  I'm not kidding.  This stuff is so strong that it gave me a coughing fit when I used it.  I know it can't be healthy to inhale it too often but I used it in my bathroom which is fairly large and still I was overpowered by the smell.  If you can get past the fumes it gives off when applied, you may decide to use it often.  Neutrogena's micro-mist sunless tanning spray is usually priced around $10.00

I haven't tried my bottle of Sinful Colors polish yet but I've heard good things about this brand and the $1.99 price tag doesn't hurt either!  I have been using my City Color bronzer though.  It's a nice, large compact that has a raised palm tree and a gold overspray.  The nice thing is that this bronzer has gold shimmer throughout the product, not just in the overspray.  I've used this on my chest and I liked the results.  I usually don't go for a shimmery bronzer but this one is pretty decent for the $3.99 price.

City Color bronzer in Sunset.  On the left you can see where I have used the product past the gold overspray (which is seen to the right).  See swatch below. 

Swatches of products mentioned above (L-R)- City Color bronzer in Sunset, Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting in Honey Glow, Estee Lauder's Wild Sunset Pure Color blush, Estee Lauder's Artist's Eye Pencil in Softsmudge Brown and Estee Lauder's Pure Color lipstick in Candy.

Asian Skin Care-including Ossion & Salux!

I've been lucky in the past to have visited the Missy cosmetics counter to try different Asian skin care products before.  Asian skin care products have been exploding onto the American beauty market scene for the past few years.  Products like BB Creams have taken off thanks to this and Korean skin care lines are beginning to find mainstream enthusiasts here in the states.

I am always willing to try something new, so when I visit the Super H Mart in Atlanta (Asian supermarket), I always take time to stop at the Missy cosmetics counter for some more goodies.

Ossion's Mild Touch Cleansing Foam Set- $29.00

A while back I made a post about Isa Knox BB Cream click here to see review.  I found the BB Cream to be a great product but I also enjoyed one of the samples I received when I bought the cream.  I found that I really liked Ossion's Mild Touch Cleansing Foam and that I couldn't wait to get the full size.  Ossion is a line under the Hankook umbrella of Korean skin care brands. 

Ossion's Mild Touch Cleansing Milk and Cleansing Foam

I find that this facial cleanser is a great addition to my skincare routine.  I usually use Neutrogena's Fresh Foaming Cleanser with my Clarisonic each night.  I decided to use the Ossion foam instead this week and I have really enjoyed it.  It removes makeup, has a great scent (not too heavy or fragrant) and leaves my skin feeling very soft.  It comes out of the tube thick and is white in color.  Once massaged into the skin (or applied using a Clarisonic), it begins to foam and washes away completely. 

I notice my skin feels very clean after using the product and that I haven't had any breakouts since using it.  When I purchased it, it came with a smaller tube of Ossion's Cleansing Milk which can be applied to a dry face and rubbed into the skin to cleanse and remove makeup.  I have tried the cleansing milk as well this week and I find it is very similar to Ahava's Cleansing Milk.  Both Ossion products came together in a set and were $29.00.  You can purchase the set by calling 770-418-0202 or by visiting a Missy cosmetics counter.

L-R- Facial masks by Sooryehan and The Qure (with cucumber and collagen).

After I picked up the Ossion cleanser, I also picked up two face masks to try.  Both masks are applied by laying them on your face for 15 -20 minutes.  The mask is made of paper and has the product applied on one side, so it literally sits on top of your face and soaks in.  Once you are done with the mask, you peel away the paper then rub the excess product into the skin. 

I have already tried the Sooryehan mask this week which unfortunately didn't seem to make a difference with my skin.  I did notice a few blackheads come up around my chin area but I am not sure if this was because of the mask or not.  I'm excited to try the Qure mask next.  The Sooryehan mask was $2.99 and the Qure cucumber collagen mask was $1.99. 

Top (L-R)- A3F[on] Turn Again Peeling Gel & Ossion's Mild Touch Detox Bubble Mask

Bottom (L-R)- Ossion's Intensive Slim Body Peeling & Ossion's Collagen V3 Cream

Another thing I love about shopping at the Missy cosmetics counter is the free samples I get.  Each time I get to try new products and the sweet saleswoman offered some new samples for me to try.  Since I expressed my love for the Ossion cleansing foam, she offered a sample of Ossion's Mild Touch Detox Bubble Mask. 

This mask is very popular and the reviews I've read reminds me of Bliss' Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Facial Mask.  The Bliss mask is $54.00 at Ulta.  The Ossion mask is $40.00.  I'm excited to try it out to see if it worth the hype.  You first apply the mask by rubbing it onto your skin and letting it sit there.  As it sits, a foam begins to develop.  When I try this mask out, I will be sure to take pictures and post them here.  I'm also excited to try the peeling gels and the collagen cream. 

Salux's Beauty Skin Cloth-$2.99

The last item I picked up from Super H Mart wasn't located at the Missy counter.  I have been hunting down a Salux cloth for a few months now and I was so happy to have found one.  I have read great reviews about this Japanese cloth which prompted me to search for one in the first place (click here to read reviews). 

The purpose of the this cloth is to exfoliate.  As you know, summer is just around the corner and exfoliation is important (especially if you use a self tanner).  This cloth is not soft but has a rough texture which whisks away dead skin cells with each use.  I have used this cloth for about a week now and I really like it.  I find that it is too rough to use on my face but that it's great for my feet, knees, elbows and shoulders.  The picture on the front of the package shows a girl using it on her back and I think it would work great there too.  It's long and wide and comes in many different colors.  Because of the popularity of this product, there are a lot of "fake" cloths out there, so make sure you purchase a real Salux cloth.  You can find Salux cloths in Asian markets, at www.amazon.com and at www.saluxshop.com

 

Close-up of the cloth's texture.

Another shot of the cloth.

One More Thing...

As a side note, sometimes I like to share other things I am into that are not beauty related.  Over the past few weeks, the night sky has been great for checking out the moon, stars and some planets.  I couldn't resist pulling out my camera and taking a few photos of the moon lately.  There is something so peaceful about gazing up at the moon.



Perfect St. Patrick's Day polish and more!

St. Patrick's day is just around the corner and I've found the perfect polish that will look great on anyone's nails!

Rimmel offers nice nail polish choices in some great colors.  I enjoy their formula and brushes.  This one is no exception. 

Rimmel's Lasting Finish Pro in Rags to Riches

Check out Rimmel's Lasting Finish Pro in Rags to Riches.  It's a great green with slight gold shimmer.  Perfect even if you are Irish or not!  You can find Lasting Finish Pro at your drugstore for around $4.99/ea.

I picked up a few Revlon eyeliners and a new mascara yesterday.  Revlon's Colorstay Liquid Liner in Black Brown ($7.99), Covergirl's Lashblash 24hr mascara in Very Black ($8.99) and Revlon's Luxurious Color Smoky Crayon in Bronze Smoke ($9.99).

Brush applicator for Revlon's Colorstay Liquid Liner

I found Revlon's Colorstay liner to last all day today and that the color choice was perfect.  Sometimes black liner is too severe and this liner in Black Brown was the perfect choice.  I loved the small brush and the formula dried quickly.  It's now after 10pm and my liner is still there!

Covergirl's Lashblast 24hr mascara brush

I love the original Lashblast and the Lashblast Fusion, so I was excited to try this mascara.  I wore it today and it was okay.  Just okay.  The original Lashblast didn't smudge or transfer but with this formula I did notice some transferring below.  The formula is nice but it doesn't volumize or lengthen as much as I would like.  So far the mascara is still there but so are my "raccoon eyes".

Revlon's Luxurious Color Smoky Crayon in Bronze Smoke

This item was a last minute purchase I made and I'm glad I did.  I used it today on my waterline with no problems.  Revlon's Luxurious Smoky Crayon went on smoothly, didn't tug and lasted longer than expected.  I haven't tried it on my upper lids yet but I think this would be a great overall liner and a nice choice is you are a fan of NYX's jumbo eye pencils. 

Swatches of Revlon's Luxurious smoky crayon (top) and Revlon's Colorstay liner (bottom)

L-R- Kleancolor's Sugar Burst sheer gloss, Santee's Water Shine Liquid gloss in #03 and Hollywood Beauty's Hydrating Hair Mask with Argan Oil

I also want to mention 3 new purchases from my local beauty supply store I made recently.  I picked up two super-cheap ($1.99/ea) lip gloss tubes.  One is a sheer pink and the other is shimmery orange/coral shade.  Both are super shiny and you can't beat the price.

I also picked up a jar of Hollywood Beauty's Hydrating Hair Mask with Argan Oil.  If you remember I purchased a few months ago Hollywood Beauty's Smoothing Hair Creme with Argan Oil (click here to see post).  I liked the results the hair creme gave me so I hope the hair mask gives great results as well.  You get 7.5oz for $8.99. 

Adrienne Vittadini Velma flats

I also wanted to share a great deal that I picked up from Marshalls recently.  I really enjoy the Adrienne Vittadini label and I was pleased to see these embellished flats for only $39 down from $80!  I think these champagne colored flats will look great dressed up or down.  I've already worn them to work and I must say they are very comfortable!

One last thing...look at this cutie I found in my office.  I just love ladybugs!

Drugstore Goodies and Current Faves!

The past few weeks have been very busy...I'm still not sure what happened to the month of February!  I wanted to take a few minutes to show some items I picked up from Sally's and CVS lately.  I also want to share my latest makeup favorites that I've enjoyed over the past few weeks!

Original Tangle Teezer and Miracle 7 Leave-In Mist

After watching a few youtube videos about the Tangle Teezer, I decided to head over to Sally's Beauty Supply & pick one up.  The Tangle Teezer is a bean shaped brush with small plastic bristles.  It's designed to glide through hair and minimize damage that is usually caused by brushing.  Using a hair brush on wet hair is a big no-no since hair is the weakest when wet.  I'm VERY guilty of doing this since I have too many knots in my hair after shampooing. 

The Tangle Teezer is designed to be used in the shower or after.  After shampooing, you massage in your conditioner, use the Tangle Teezer to distribute it throughout then rinse.  So far I've enjoyed it and even my son has decided to "steal" it since he says he likes the way it feels on his hair.  If you have knotty, unruly hair or you want a safer way to brush, pick one up.  They are $9.99 at Sally's.

Close-up of the Tangle Teezer's bristles.

Aside from the Tangle Teezer, I picked up another bottle of Miracle 7 Leave-In Mist.  I haven't purchased a bottle in many months since I've been trying other products but I really enjoyed this leave-in conditioner in the past.  Warm weather is around the corner and I found this conditioner to be just right without weighing down my hair.  You can pick up a bottle at Sally's for $12.99.

While at Sally's I also picked up two hair treatment samples.  I love my Macadamia Natural Oil masque but at only $.99 each, I couldn't resist Proclaim's Argan Oil Intense Hydrating Masque and Silk Elements Megasilk Moisturizing Treatment.  I haven't used them yet but I'm excited to try them out.  My hair is very long and very thirsty hence I love using masque's and conditioning treatments.  I find that I have less breakage and better volume when my hair is hydrated.  You can pick up both sample packs at Sally's for $.99/ea.

Proclaim's Argan Oil Intense Hydrating Masque & Silk Elements Megasilk Treatment

CVS cotton ovals and salon rounds

I just love CVS.  I have one within 2 minutes of my house and I'm probably in there at least twice a week.  I enjoy their beauty club and every purchase I make goes towards cash rewards and coupons.  Today I picked up a few items and saved $10 with coupons! 

Today I picked up their premium cotton ovals which I love to use to take eye makeup off with.  I also picked up a bag of their salon rounds which have a neat tab that protects your manicure when using them with polish remover.  I love these rounds when giving myself a pedicure and I don't want to damage the nail color on my fingernails.  The salon rounds also have a rough texture which speeds up removing nail polish from your nails.

Close-up of the tab on the salon rounds.

Close-up showing the texture on the pad.

While at CVS I also picked up a tub of Sebamed Moisturizing Face Cream.  I've heard good things about Sebamed but I've never tried any of their products.  I found this face cream (for sensitive skin) and I decided to give it a try.  I haven't used it yet but I will begin this evening and keep everyone updated on the results.  Sebamed Moisturizing Cream contains no parabens, has a ph of 5.5,  contains vitamin E and is hypoallergenic.  I hope that this moisturizer is the one I've been searching for!  I picked up my jar today for $12.99 and earned $2 in cash rewards!

Sebamed Moisturizing Face Cream for Sensitive Skin

Close-up of the cream.  The jar contains 2.6 oz.

~~~~~~~CURRENT FAVES~~~~~~~

The past few weeks have flown by but the makeup below has not let me down yet!  I've received compliments on my purple nail polish choice this past week which was OPI's Purple with a Purpose.  It's a great purple shade that looks outstanding on anyone.  I've also been loving Revlon's Lip Butters.  I know these are VERY popular but they really are a great product despite the hype.  They are moisturizing and have good color intensity.  I've been loving Sugar Plum, Red Velvet & Lollipop. 

I've also enjoyed my MAC blush in Margin.  It's a fabulous shade that never disappoints me.  It has a gorgeous sheen that flatters my skin tone very well.  I've also been reaching for MAC's Woodwinked eyeshadow.  It goes on smoothly and gives a nice brown shade with a golden sheen. 

I've been also using Wet n Wild's gel liner in #886 (black), Wet n Wild's Perfect Pair lip wand in #122A (deep mauve color) and NYX Jumbo eye pencil in Pure Gold.  Wet n Wild's gel liner is one of the best on the market!  I've tried so many liners but this one lasts and lasts all day.  I've also enjoyed the lip wand (one side is a lip liner, the other is a lip crayon) to line my lips and the NYX pencil to line my water line. 

You can find OPI nail polish at Ulta for $8.50/ea.  You can find MAC blush for $20/ea and MAC eyeshadow for $15/ea at www.maccosmetics.com

Revlon's lip butters are available at your local drugstore for around $7.50/ea.  Wet n Wild's gel liner and lip wand is available at drugstores for around $3.99 each.  NYX Jumbo eye pencils come in many shades and are available at Ulta for $4.49/ea.

BACK (L-R)- OPI's Purple with a Purpose, lip butter's in Sugar Plum, Red Velvet & Lollipop.  MAC blush in Margin and MAC eyeshadow in Woodwinked.

FRONT (L-R)- Wet n Wild's gel liner in #886, Wet n Wild's lip wand in # 122A and NYX jumbo eye pencil in Pure Gold.

Swatches (top-bottom)- Woodwinked, Margin, Pure Gold & #122A lip liner

Revlon Lip Butter swatches (top-bottom)- Lollipop, Red Velvet & Sugar Plum

One last fave...Bath & Body Works candles!  I wait until they are 2 for $20 (they are usually $19.50/ea).  I recently picked up Tiki Beach and Tropical Spice.  These are hands down the best candles out there!  They burn evenly and give off a great scent!

Naked 2 palette PLUS Essie, shoes and other goodies!!!

It may be cold outside but I've been getting ready for spring!  Since I've been doing a little shopping lately, I wanted to share some things I've picked up that I am currently impressed with.  I could not hold out any longer on the Naked 2 palette and I just HAD to have two new shades from Essie's Spring 2012 collection.  Of course I also picked up some more leopard print items...I can't get enough of leopard print lately! 

When the last Naked palette came out I ordered it immediately online via www.sephora.com and I probably was one of the first to get it.  Even the Urban Decay rep at my local Ulta didn't have one yet, lol.  This time when the Naked 2 palette came out I decided to wait.  Well...last week I broke down and purchased it.  I purchased it as a reward for surviving a stressful week at work and I'm glad I did.  It's really a great palette with 5 brand new shades and yes I do believe there is enough room in everyone's collection to have both palettes.

Each Naked 2 palette comes with a sample size of Lip Junkie gloss in Naked and a double ended brush.

If you are not familiar with the first Naked palette, please read my review and tutorial here.

The first difference you will notice about the two palettes is the packaging.  The first palette is a velvet covered box with a magnetic closure.  The Naked 2 palette is made of metal and securely closes by snapping shut.  I personally like the packaging on the first palette since I have found the Naked 2 harder to open and close.  The metal packaging however does protect the eyeshadows better.

The only repeat shade is from the first palette is Half Baked (which happens to be one of my favorites!).  Half Baked is a warm toned gold with an incredible sheen.  The 5 new shades are Booty Call, Tease, Snakebite, Pistol and Busted.  I have found that the Naked 2 palette has more "cool toned" shades whereas the first Naked palette has warmer shades.  I personally love Booty Call, Suspect, Pistol and Busted.  I actually based my decision to purchase the Naked 2 palette on the swatch I made of Pistol in the store.  You can purchase the Naked 2 palette (and the original Naked palette) at Ulta, Sephora or www.urbandecay.com for $50 each.  Pictured below are some close-ups and swatches of each color.

#1- FOXY- a warm, vanilla colored matte shade

#2- HALF BAKED- a warm, golden shimmer

#3- BOOTY CALL- shimmery champagne shade

#4- CHOPPER- shimmer based bronze with slight glitter

#5- TEASE- cool toned, matte brown

#6- SNAKEBITE- cool toned brown with bronze and gold

#7- SUSPECT- golden beige with shimmer

#8- PISTOL- cool toned shimmery gray

#9- VERVE- shimmery "mother of pearl" shade

#10- YDK- cool toned bronze, similar to rose gold

#11- BUSTED- deep brown with a sheen finish

#12- BLACKOUT- black with a matte finish

~~~~~~~Swatches~~~~~~~

Booty Call, Chopper, Tease and Snakebite

Suspect, Pistol, Verve and YDK

Foxy, Half Baked (repeat from 1st Naked palette), Busted and Blackout

Close-Up Shots of the Shadows

L-R- Foxy, Half Baked, Booty Call & Chopper

L-R- Tease, Snakebite & Suspect

L-R- Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted & Blackout

Swatch of Lip Junkie gloss in "Naked"

~~~~~~~Spring Nail Polish Picks~~~~~~~

L-R- Essie's A Crewed Interest, Sally Hansen's Gem Crush in Be-Jeweled and Essie's Ole' Caliente

In addition to the Naked 2 palette, I picked up two shades from Essie's Spring 2012 collection plus a lovely polish by Sally Hansen.  A Crewed Interest is a creamy, peach shade that is really unique.  Ole' Caliente is a bold, orange-red that would look phenomenal against tan skin.  Sally Hansen's Be-Jeweled is currently on my toes and it sparkles very nicely.  If you are a purple lover like myself, you will love this shade!  Essie costs $8 each and Sally Hansen's Gem Crush shades are about $6.50 each.  You can find Essie and Sally Hansen at Ulta or your local CVS.

I also picked up a new blue polish by Milani in honor of my son's recent blue belt in karate and a new bronzer.  Bolting Blue is a nice bold, blue shade that goes on smoothly.  You can find Milani nail polish at Target, CVS and Walmart.  Park Ave Princess is a smooth, medium toned bronzer that has no shimmer.  I really like this bronzer since it goes on smoothly, doesn't fade throughout the day and gives me a nice glow.  You can find this bronzer at Ulta for $29.00.  Did I mention it is waterproof too?! 

Milani's Bolting Blue nail polish and Tarte's Park Ave Princess bronzer

Close-up of Tarte's Park Ave Princess (notice I am wearing Ole' Caliente by Essie on my nails).

~~~~~~~Shoes & Dresses~~~~~~~

I've been hunting down some leopard flats and look at what I found at Target!  Run...don't walk to Target for these super-cute leopard flats!!!  They are only $14.99!

I needed some nude pumps for a new suit I bought recently...how about these?  I found them at Target for only $29.99!  They are comfortable too!  Nude pumps go with everything!

Since I've been on such a leopard print kick lately, how about this scarf that I found for $14.99 at World Market?  I also picked up these earrings and bracelet which were both $4.99 (plus 20% off).

Finally I want to share two dresses I picked up this weekend at my favorite store...Belk!  Belk always has incredible clearance racks and these dresses were a steal!  The black dress was originally $110.00 and I got it for $26.00!  The purple print dress was originally $98.00 and I got it for $11.99!  I plan to wear the black dress to an evening wedding I am going to in March.  It has a tiered skirt (hard to see in this picture) with a bodice lined in nude under lace.  The purple dress will be perfect for work! 

Black lace dress-$26!

Purple print dress-$11.99!

As a side note...I've been playing this song on repeat this past week :)